Medical management of endometriosis and infertility

Objective: To review the literature on the use of medical management of endometriosis and infertility. Design: Literature review. Result(s): Endometriosis is a common finding in women with infertility, but the mechanism by which it renders a woman infertile remains unclear. Despite many years of controversy and debate, there remains a strong bias against medical treatment for endometriosis-associated infertility. A review of the current literature suggests that medical management of endometriosis may be effective in selected patients and in certain settings, including patients undergoing IVF. Conclusion(s): A closer look at the question of medical management of endometriosis reveals that much remains to be learned before a final decision can be made about the use of medical therapies, such as GnRH agonists, for endometriosis and associated infertility. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.